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His Purpose: • “My intention being to write something of use to those who understand, it appears to me more proper to go to the real truth of the matter than to its imagination; and many have imagined republics and principalities which have never been seen or known to exist in reality; for how we live is so far removed from how we ought to live, than he who abandons what is done from what ought to be done, will rather learn to bring about his own ruin than preservation.” • What does he mean?
The Man • Born in Florence • Famous for The Prince - guide to political power (i.e. The Idiot’s Guide to...) • 1st modern political philosopher • Argues that human nature is pretty much evil when it comes to politics
Introduced secular concept of the state • Not anti-religious but anti-clerical • Felt that the nation state was an artistic creation of man; not divine • Provides advice to the prince since the prince and his state have the same goal: to maintain power at all times
Provides examples of how to maintain power at any cost • Prince must be a great propagandist • Can deceive his people to maintain power & stability • “End justifies the means” • “Be feared rather than loved” to avoid conspiracies
Reveals the maturation of humanistic thought • Important to refer to classical wisdom BUT you must be able to apply it to contemporary life • Goes against the Renaissance value of virtue (it is argued that those with an education will choose virtue over vice) he disagrees! • BUT you must look like you are a moral compass
